I always use the rocket blower to clean my sensor, that thing works wonders.

However, NEVER use canned air, it'll do more damaged than good. Regarding cleaning kits, I don't use them simply because I don't trust myself with touching what is essentially the heart of the camera. However, if the rocket blower doesn't work, I'd recommend either taking it into your local camera shop and asking for advice, or referring to the camera's manual for instructions. It also never hurts to call up the manufacturer when in total doubt.

I don't know about buying online, if the no-name stuff IS made of cheaper materials, you're pretty much shooting yourself in the foot. I'd rather shop around for the $10 or $20 more expensive stuff and not risk damaging your +$1000 investment.

Thanks Evan I'll get one, I only have a small blower that came with a lens cleaning kit and it’s not strong enough. I think it may be oil as I've only changed the lens from memory twice, never take of the 18-200 mm.

One shop gave me the number of a guy who cleans lenses, not knowing him is a worry so I won’t be calling him, the shop says he charges around $100.

I read an article by Thom Thorn on sensor cleaning and it does not seem to be that hard so being careful not to scrub the sensor I think it should be ok.

I had mine cleaned at a local camera shop a few months ago, after previously trying it myself They did it within the hour & charged £35.

Like you, I very rarely change lenses on my D7000 & last week noticed more `spots`. I used the `arctic butterfly` (after trying the rocket-blower) but it left streaky smudges, so I think they were oil spots too. I'd had this issue before. So I did a sensor clean myself with the few swabs I had left from last time I tried it. It's certainly much better, but not perfect.

I aint happy that these are still appearing on my 2yr old camera with nearly 11000 actuations, especially when they're coming from INSIDE the camera!

This was taken at F16 & darkened (obviously not as obvious sooc) to show what it looked liked after the spots smudged & before I cleaned it.

Carlos, your sensor appears smeared compared to mine. My shot taken from Thom Thorns article @ f22 on white paper and auto fix in elements. I found a store on the other side of town where I can get a rocket blower, hopefully it will be enough.

I also found a sensor cleaning pen from Lenspen, “LensPen Sensor Klear “. The tip looks similar to the pen used for lenses and I’m thinking it may be to hard so more research on that. The trouble is so much garbage given out as advice online.

Just a tip for changing lenses, I usually prepare the lens I'm about to put on by loosening the lens cap, and holdg the camera so that any dust will fall off the sensor while there's no lens mounted. It doesn't seem like it makes much of a difference, but ever since I've started changing lenses by letting gravity pull off any loose dust, it's made quite a difference.

4xxxx. The spots WERE spots before I tried the dry `arctic-butterfly` brush, which is great for removing dry dust specks, but obviously the spots were oily/greasy. So had to wet-clean the sensor. I'll also now have to buy some isopropyl alcohol to clean the contaminated brush!

Agree with you Evan, pointing the body down does help. (if only to stop any specks dropping off the lens body/hands/clothing etc directly into the camera body)

Thanks Guys, Even though only occasionally I change the lens I do point it down. I got the Giotto blower and cleaning kit, the blower did not remove the heavy spots, I decided to risk the brush with that came with the kit and then used the blower again, it looks like the spots are gone against a blue sky.

I’m away for a few days and my laptops setting are different to my monitor but my shots look ok, I was a bit concerned about the sensor and the brush so hopefully I have not done anything stupid.

I have been cleaning my sensors for years with no issues but I always use a blower first. reading carlos's post that it took 1 hour and they charged him 35 pounds amazes me...

the first time I had a few spots on my sensor I took it to the shop I bought my gear at... at that the guy I bought the camera from said he would clean it for me and show me how to do it if I wanted to learn .... all I needed to do was buy the swabs and the "sensor clean" which is a liquid. It took him all of 15 minutes to show and guide me through the process and these days it takes me less than 5 minutes to do when it needs doing.

the process is simple... put a few drops of the sensor clean on the swab and with 1 or 2 strokes across the entire sensor it is done. you dont have to apply a lot of pressure.. as a matter of fact use as little pressure as possible as the only damage you can do is move the sensor if you push too hard which will of course screw everything up regarding focus but this isnt that easy to do and ppl worry too much about it. But as he told me at that time lots of ppl are scared to do it because they feel they will cause damage when in reality the risk of damage is minimal and is just as great for someone in the shop as it is for you as it is a thing everyone in the shop does ... not just the repair guys or the techs.. it may well be a 17 year old stock boy cleaning it if everyone else is busy.

anyways.. the swabs are the exact size of the sensor so as long as you start at one edge and move completely to the other 1 or 2 times will do the trick... after that you just let it air dry for 30 seconds or so.

to make sure the spots are gone or if you wanna check if you have spots focus on a blue sky and crank your AP to 22 or 24. If you have any spots they will be clearly visible. if you do have some spots remaining repeat the process using the same swab... if you have to do it a 3rd time use a new swab.

all that being said if you dont feel comfy doing it dont.... All I am saying is it is easy to do.

Thanks Wolf, our two local camera specialist stores do not stock sensor cleaning kits so I have to buy it online. My concern is these online stores may substitute the cleaning liquid for something that is not desirable on the sensor. I'm willing to try the sensor kit especially after one store gave me a number of a guy who cleans them and charges $100.

For a test I took a couple of shots on the weekend, it was an overcast day and whispery cloud, I don't know if I am now paranoid after using the Giotto brush on the senor to remove the spots but the sky in the original shot below looks noisy.

I'd appreciate if anyone would pixel peep and give me your opinion, these are straight out of the camera, original and 100% crop. f8 @ 200mm, 1/1000s, ISO 200 & 0.07EV.

This is the stuff I use 4x... I bought it at the store I have bought all of my camera gear from for years and I trust them all the way with thier advise. They make 3 products now of differing strenghts but I still use the mildest named "sensor clean".. oh and I use their swabs as well.

np... if you can find a place to buy the stuff and you are comfy cleaning it you may want to keep it in your bag at all times like I do... lots of times I end up miles and days away from everything and as such its nice to have stuff like this with me at all times.

I'm using the Pentax sensor cleaning kit. That's pretty simple stuff and it works and I'm really happy with it. Pretty expensive for that little thing but looking at the longer time it's really acceptable.

Leave it to a wildlife guy that lives practically in the middle of nowhere.......

I use the same stuff as wolf.Closest camera shop to me costs me $100 round trip in gas just to get to!!!They will take your camera out back and use the same stuff after reading the directions that come with it if they don't already know how.Then they'll charge you $100.....every time.I took my cam in...once.The guy that sold me my camera knowing the distance I travel looked at me,rolled his eyes,took me over to the rack and picked out the gear and then told me I was completely capable,showed me how,sold me the stuff and sent me home with it....That guy has since switched shops,it costs me $150 to go see him now,and if I want to buy/checkout more real gear(lenses or bodies) ....I'll spend it he's got a customer for life.

It's easy....go for it.

Bit of a disclaimer here...both wolf and I take our gear places and do things to it that would probably make some of you guys gasp/shudder!!